124 Vipers Bugloss on Slapton Beach
in the reedbeds during the winter and up to 20,000 Swallows spend their summers here. Wildfowl on the Ley include Pochard, Wigeon,
Shoveler, Goldeneye, Tufted Duck and Gadwall. The Great Crested Grebe is a regal-looking resident of the Ley, with its long neck, plumed head and chestnut ruff framing a white face. ‘Grebe- fur’ - the skin and feathers of the bird - once formed a very fashionable part of the wardrobes of wealthy women. It almost became ex- tinct as a result. However, the grebe’s plight led to the creation of the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) and its numbers have since recovered. The ‘boom’ call of the Bittern is a sound rarely heard
© Bob-Jones geograph-2562915
As the route leaves Slapton Village, you will pass Slapton Ley Field Studies Centre on the left. The centre hosts school, university and adult groups on courses relating to the environment and biology. There is a visitor centre for the Reserve here which you are welcome to visit. For more information about the Reserve and the Centre visit
www.slnnr.org.uk
Wildlife Along the top of the shingle ridge at Slapton Sands grow several rare plants, including Viper’s Bugloss. This fabulously named flower throws up spikes of vivid blue blooms. Look out also for the Yellow Horned Poppy. The name describes it well, the ‘horned’ part referring to its long curved seed pods. In spring, if you stand on the bridge just outside the reserve entrance and look down you may see the startling sight of thousands of fish. These Roach, Rudd and Perch mass here to spawn. There are a bewildering variety of wild birds on the na- ture reserve at Slapton Ley, coming in all kinds, shapes and sizes. Ideally, take along a pair of binoculars, an identifi cation book and a bit of patience to make the most of what’s on offer. Just after you enter the reserve from the road, a shelter on the left contains a black- board. This has recent sightings written on which will help give you an idea of the birdlife currently around. Autumn and spring bring migrating birds pausing here as they pass through. Starlings roost in huge numbers
Marsh Harrier Crested Grebe
in England these days, but if you’re lucky you might hear it here. This shy, sizeable bird overwinters on the reserve, skulking about in the reeds where it hunts for fish. There is a chance you might see another national rarity, the Marsh Harrier, gliding above the reed beds. This large bird of prey has long dark wings and tail. It hunts birds, mammals and frogs. Reedbeds are an uncommon and invaluable habitat. Reedbeds are their own worst enemies in that they tend naturally to dry out – and so die out – over time. This makes maintain- ing them a challenging – and sometimes costly – job. The reeds here were once widely harvested for thatch and areas are still cut each year. The reedbeds here are visited in the summer by Reed Warblers. These small, brown, narrow- billed birds are able to cling to the vertical stems of the reeds. They build nests woven around several reed stems. Rarer still, Cetti’s Warblers are slapton residents. You might hear their sudden loud peals of song from amongst the reeds or scrub. Wildflowers to be found alongside the path by the Ley include Primroses, Celandine, Bluebells and Wild Garlic. The spring and early summer also bring out sprays of white Stitchwort and of the blushing Red Cam- pion. In the wet areas around the boardwalk grow miniature carpets of Golden Saxifrage, a plant with tiny yellow-green flowers in the centre of a little nest of leaves. Dwarfing these are the stands of Hemlock Water Dropwort. A poisonous plant, it produces white ‘umbrellas’ of flowers on tall stems and has large pars- ley-like leaves.
Yellow Horned Poppy
© Dave Green (cc-by-sa/2.0)
Photo © Brian Robert Marshall (cc-by-sa/2.0)
© evelyn simak cc-by-sa/2.0 - All images licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic Licence. To view a copy of this licence, visit
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/
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